Sebastian (Durrell novel)
Encyclopedia
Sebastian, published in 1983 and sub-titled Ruling Passions, is the fourth volume in The Avignon Quintet
series by British
author Lawrence Durrell
. Set mainly in Switzerland
immediately after World War II
, the novel continues the story of Constance and the Gnostic cult begun in Monsieur
.
The mix up over the letter informing Affad of his forthcoming death has caused major ructions within the Gnostic sect, and he is called back to Egypt for admonishment. Before leaving, however, he has asked Constance to use her psychiatric skills to treat his son, who has become autistic, a task in which she is gradually successful. After Affad's return their relationship continues, but it is brought to an abrupt end by the psychopath Mnemidis, who has escaped from the institution where Constance works, and who goes to Constance's flat with a view to killing her, but kills Affad instead. The book finishes in surreal manner as Affad seems virtually to disappear from Constance's memory, two chapters give conflicting accounts of Constance's action upon the death of Constance's boss Schwartz, and unexpectedly Sylvie makes a first reappearance since Monsieur (another character who is supposedly a fictional creation of Blandford) and begins an affair with Constance.
The Avignon Quintet
The Avignon Quintet is a five-volume series of novels by British writer Lawrence Durrell, published between 1974 and 1985. The novels are openly metafictional and reflect the developments in experimental fiction following after Durrell's previous The Alexandria Quartet...
series by British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
author Lawrence Durrell
Lawrence Durrell
Lawrence George Durrell was an expatriate British novelist, poet, dramatist, and travel writer, though he resisted affiliation with Britain and preferred to be considered cosmopolitan...
. Set mainly in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
immediately after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the novel continues the story of Constance and the Gnostic cult begun in Monsieur
Monsieur (novel)
Monsieur, published in 1974 and sub-titled The Prince of Darkness, is the first volume in Lawrence Durrell's The Avignon Quintet. As a group, the five novels narrate the lives of a group of Europeans prior to and after World War II. Monsieur begins the quincunx of novels with a metafictional...
.
The mix up over the letter informing Affad of his forthcoming death has caused major ructions within the Gnostic sect, and he is called back to Egypt for admonishment. Before leaving, however, he has asked Constance to use her psychiatric skills to treat his son, who has become autistic, a task in which she is gradually successful. After Affad's return their relationship continues, but it is brought to an abrupt end by the psychopath Mnemidis, who has escaped from the institution where Constance works, and who goes to Constance's flat with a view to killing her, but kills Affad instead. The book finishes in surreal manner as Affad seems virtually to disappear from Constance's memory, two chapters give conflicting accounts of Constance's action upon the death of Constance's boss Schwartz, and unexpectedly Sylvie makes a first reappearance since Monsieur (another character who is supposedly a fictional creation of Blandford) and begins an affair with Constance.
External links
- The International Lawrence Durrell Society Official website of ILDS
- Durrell 2012: The Lawrence Durrell Centenary Centenary event website and Durrell Journal
- The Durrell School of Corfu School dedicated to the works and lives Lawrence and Gerald Durrell